White House Announces Enhanced Ebola Screening At Five U.S. Airports

Oct 09, 2014

News outlets report on the White House announcement that increased screening for Ebola will be put in place at five major U.S. airports for those arriving from the West African countries hardest hit by the virus.

The Hill: WH: Ebola screening will reach 94 percent arriving in U.S. from West Africa
“White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday that increased screening for Ebola at five major U.S. airports will capture 94 percent of passengers who are arriving from African nations that are battling the virus. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Wednesday that it would require passengers who travel from nations struck by Ebola to airports in Washington, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Atlanta to have their temperatures checked and fill out a health questionnaire…” (Laing, 10/8).

New York Times: Newly Vigilant, U.S. Will Screen Fliers for Ebola
“Federal health officials will require temperature checks for the first time at five major American airports for people arriving from the three West African countries hardest hit by the deadly Ebola virus. However, health experts said the measures were more likely to calm a worried public than to prevent many people with Ebola from entering the country… ” (Tavernise, 10/8).

Reuters: U.S. will implement extra Ebola screening at five airports — White House
“The White House said on Wednesday extra Ebola screening will be put in place at five U.S. airports; New York’s John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta…” (Heavey/Zargham, 10/8).

Wall Street Journal: U.S. to Check Temperatures of West Africa Passengers at Five Airports
“…Customs and Border Protection officers are already monitoring travelers for any obvious signs of Ebola and handing out fact sheets that tell arriving passengers what symptoms they should watch for, so the move didn’t represent a major change in screening strategy. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the administration decided to adopt the measures ‘after some thought and evaluations of the security measures’ already in place and determined these new screenings could be adopted ‘without causing a significant disruption to the traveling public’…” (Grossman et al., 10/8).